As a team member, this individual will participate in the elementary school education of children of workers and nationals. Four to six students are in the lower elementary grades; this individual will be responsible for helping these students fulfill the educational requirements for their respective grade levels. There is potential for this role to expand into teaching bilingually and include local children.

Required Qualifications:

Clear conversion and call to ministry

A recognized bachelor’s degree in elementary education

Spouse must hold a recognized bachelor’s degree

Two or more years of teaching experience at the preschool/elementary level

Completion of Missions Perspectives course

Physical and mental health

Preferred Qualifications:

Previous experience in cross-cultural TCK ministry or life overseas

Experience in ESL or TEFL

The ability and motivation to learn Indonesian

Responsibilities:

Make a healthy and positive adjustment to local culture

Learn the local language

Plan and supervise the educational progress of each student in his/her respective grade level

Build relationships with people from the local culture and expat volunteers

Fulfill other duties as assigned by the team leader

General Information:

Our team lives in a city in Indonesia directly impacted by the tsunami in 2004, which resulted in the death of approximately 80 percent of this city’s population. CAMA began working here within days of the tsunami and has continued its work in the province as one of the few remaining NGOs (non-governmental organizations). Visit The World Factbook for more information.

Work and Living Environment:

This is a small, rural city on one of the most beautiful stretches of pristine coastline in Southeast Asia; there are few foreigners or believers. Indonesians are famous for their gentle, warm hospitality, and the people in this area are of no exception. A history of conflict stretching back to colonial times has earned locals a reputation of being more forthright and independent.

Housing will be a rented home in a strategic location. The applicant must be willing to live in the local community with all the unique joys and challenges this brings. Many dry goods and a wide selection of fruits, vegetables, seafood, poultry, and occasionally beef are available in local stores and markets. Imported foods are available in the capital—a 2.5-hour drive up the coast. Indonesian kitchen and household furnishings, as well as some electronics, are available locally. A broader selection of household items are available in the capital.

Language Expectations:

Expectations for learning Indonesian, the national language, will depend on the length of the applicant’s term:

Long-term applicant: One year of language study followed by on-site language and cultural acquisition studies

Beginning March 2015, the team will have an ER registered nurse who can assist with immediate medical needs. This city has several small pharmacies with a good selection of medications available, but outside medical consultations for prescriptions would be necessary for anything needed beyond basic care. The hospital is quite basic; the quality of care is inconsistent. Better care is available in the capital but remains below international standards. International quality care is available in Penang or Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which are a 1.5-hour flight from this city.

Expectations for Spouse

Spousal roles vary based on the husband’s and wife’s gifts, abilities, training, and needs of the team and as family commitments allow.

Children’s Educational Plan and Options

If the teacher hired for this position has grade school-aged children, they will attend the same school with the other TCKS. Currently, the homeschool co-op is the only available U.S. college preparatory education option in the city. Junior and senior high school boarding options are available at Dalat International School in Penang, Malaysia.

Compensation Package

This is a partially funded position with the expectation that, once appointed, efforts will be made to raise 75 percent of support costs through the applicant’s network of friends and family, local church, or other resources. Information on support costs will be made available upon application. Training and/or coaching in fundraising is available.

Whole-Life Health:

CAMA Services is the relief and development arm of the C&MA. As part of an evangelical denomination, we are committed to Biblical holism. We are first committed to model holism and then reflect holism in how we carry out our work. Because of this commitment, part of the required qualifications include being healthy in all aspects of life. As you move forward in the consideration process for appointment, these will be assessed.

Important Clarification

Applicants should be aware that serving in the international world often requires a higher degree of grace and flexibility. For example, overseas teams can be suddenly and unexpectedly impacted by illness, government decisions, financial realities, team changes, or other factors beyond the team’s control. The challenge for applicants is that these factors can sometimes necessitate the sudden redefining of a position, which may take place before, during, or after the application/interview process has begun or is completed.